Update on an important but not ATiM-related game: Alabama wins the SEC championship 32 – 28 when a Georgia player slipped after a pass reception on a first-and-goal in the last five seconds of the game.

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By now most teams are in survival mode–keep enough key players healthy to finish out the season where you are and make it into a bowl game, or get key players experience so that next year is better than this one was. Just four weeks to go after this. . . although there will be some grudge matches coming up.

Early games this week: UNC beat Virginia on Thursday 37 – 13, while yesterday Florida International beat Florida Atlantic 34 – 24 (what’s up with Florida, Mike, are you guys trying to rival Texas and California for number of schools with football teams?) and Air Force beat Hawaii 21 – 7. Today’s games:

Northwestern is at MSU as we try to become bowl-eligible (and avoid a losing season) (line: Northwestern, spread 6.5) I hope they’re wrong, but I’d have to go with the betting line on this one, dang it.

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Halfway mark, and this week’s post will be short and sweet because I got tied up last night and the first kickoffs are in just an hour. Thursday there must have been something in the air in Texas, because SMU beat Houston 72 – 42 (that sounds like a basketball score–are we sure it was played in a stadium?). Oregon beat Arizona State 43 – 21 in Pac-12 action, then last night Syracuse beat UConn 40 – 10. Today’s games:

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I’m not sure that any of us cared much about the early games this week; on Thursday Western KY beat Troy 31 – 26, Tulsa beat UTEP 33 – 11 (UTEP had a field goal and then a touchdown with a two-point conversion), and Arizona State clobbered Utah’s fellow inductee into the Pac12, Colorado, 51 – 17. Last night Navy beat Central Michigan 31 – 13 in Mt Pleasant (sorry, Aunt Nancy!).

On the menu for today:

Iowa is playing at MSU (line: MSU, spread 11.5). Once more into the breach (to mix battles)–go, Spartans! [Update: MSU loses 19 – 16 in OT]

Northwestern, the surprise of the Big Ten this year, is at Minnesota (line: Northwestern, spread 3.5). Should be an excellent game, and for bsimon’s sake, go Gophers! [Update: Northwestern wins 21 – 13]

And, ahem, the intra-ATiM death match of the week: Texas is venturing into the lions’ den in the Cotton Bowl which is actually closer to Norman, Oklahoma at noon EDT (ABC)(line: Oklahoma, spread 3.0). I’m backing away slowly from this one and letting Mark and okie have at it with the trash talk. . .

In a huge surprise, okie goes with the spread and picks the Sooners 31-28. But she’s going to be terribly annoyed if it turns out the Sooners lose by a Penn State field goal. Sooners have the edge at QB, but the game really depends on which defense is worse. Ay-yi-yi for both defenses. Damien Williams could make a huge difference for the Sooner running game if he isn’t overwhelmed by his first experience in the atmosphere of this game. This is a really great rivalry game! In person, the huge crowd demarked at the 50 yard line with a sea of red in one direction and a sea of orange in the other is amazing. Saving the trash talk for the comments. BOOMER SOONER!okie

For the ‘Horns, watch out for Johnathan Gray, last year’s HS running back of the year, as a potential difference maker. QB David Ash has come so far, so fast, as a sophomore, that I won’t concede Landry Jones is still his better. Okie is right about the suspect defenses, yet both squads are sprinkled with huge raw talent. I think it will be close and middling high scoring, as does Okie. 35-28 UT? Could be. HOOK ‘EM!MiA

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The weather is changing–here in SLC we had our first dip into the 30s last night for the overnight low. Leaves are starting to turn, the presidential debates have started, and in 31 days we’ll be voting. . . time for the football to get serious! First up this week, Utah lost to USC here in Salt Lake Thursday night; after a fluky start in which the Utes scored 14 points in the first 2:15 or so, the Trojans went on to dominate 38 – 28. Last night Syracuse beat Pitt 14 – 13–Scott, was it a good game or just close? Incidentally, BYU beat USU 6 – 3 in what, from the last five minutes of the game that I saw, had to be two of the most inept offenses on display this week. Up for us in ATiM-world today:

MSU is at Indiana (line: MSU, spread 16). Maybe we could win one this week, guys? Go Green Go White!

Northwestern is playing Penn State (line: Northwestern, spread 3). Northwestern is 6 – 0 on the season so far, so this should be a good game to watch (noon EDT on ESPN).

Unless you’re watching USF at Temple (line: USF, spread 4.5). This one you’ll probably have to stream to watch–Go Bulls!

BC is at Army (line: BC, spread 9.5) also at the same time on CBS. That’s going to be a busy time for remote controls! Go, Eagles!

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Another crisp fall morning here in SLC–it’s only 54 outside right now (7:40 a.m. MDT) but it’s supposed to get up to 82 for the high today. Life, elevated! How’s the football looking? Well, Stanford lost to UW in Husky Stadium Thursday night 17 – 13, which if you have to lose is at least a pretty place to do it (you should see the views of Lake Washington and the Cascades from the stadium). BYU slaughtered Hawaii last night 47 – 0 in Provo; I didn’t watch either game as I was having dinner with friends on Thursday and busy with other stuff last night, so if anyone has any great insights into the games feel free to share.

Texas is playing the other OSU (line: UT, spread 3.0) Mark and okie, y’all be nice to each other, now. Or at least polite! (FOX at 7:50 p.m. EDT) [Update: Texas wins 41 – 36 in the last minute. OSU’s last possession was one of the wildest and wooliest I’ve seen in a long time–a nail-biter of a game!]

Wisconsin is at Nebraska, that Big Ten upstart (line: Nebraska, spread 11.5) Another intra-ATiM game; I’ll leave Brent and Fairlington Blade to duke it out. [Update: Nebraska wins 30 – 27 when UW fumbles on a 4th and 1 with 1:11 remaining. Another nail-biter (the football’s getting much better now that we’re into the “real” games!!]